Monaco GP: Antonelli Snatches Sensational Pole with Last-Gasp Lap

Kimi Antonelli produced a stunning last-gasp lap to deny Max Verstappen and secure pole for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, tightening his grip on the championship with a fourth pole in five races. His final effort of 1m12.051s edged Verstappen by just 0.043s after Ferrari’s Friday dominance crumbled under Saturday pressure.

Why it matters:

With the title fight heating up, Antonelli’s ability to deliver under pressure at a venue where grid position is everything cements his status as the driver to beat. Ferrari swept Friday practice but failed to convert that pace into a front-row start, leaving them with a steep recovery task on a circuit where passing is nearly impossible.

The details:

• Antonelli’s final Q3 effort reclaimed the top spot after Verstappen had briefly seized provisional pole with a 1m12.094s. Lewis Hamilton backed up Mercedes’ pace in third, while Charles Leclerc’s disrupted session ended with a brush of the barriers and fourth place.
• Ferrari’s momentum vanished after dominating Friday. Leclerc aborted his first Q3 run at Massenet and never found rhythm, leaving the Scuderia unable to respond to Antonelli’s late charge.
• Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar took fifth, but George Russell struggled to match his Mercedes teammate in sixth. McLaren locked out the fourth row with Oscar Piastri seventh and Lando Norris eighth.
• A Q1 red flag for Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash at the Nouvelle Chicane sparked late chaos. Haas suffered a double elimination, while Aston Martin endured a dismal session with Fernando Alonso 21st and Lance Stroll last.

What's next:

Starting from pole on Monaco’s unforgiving streets puts Antonelli in prime position to extend his lead in Sunday’s race. Ferrari must find a way past the Red Bulls and Mercedes on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult, or risk watching the championship gap grow even wider.